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United States Patent |
6,177,971
|
Jung
,   et al.
|
January 23, 2001
|
Slim type notebook personal computer
Abstract
A slim type notebook personal computer mounted with a liquid crystal
display module in such a manner to have a thin thickness. In the computer,
a top bezel is secured to the edge of a lower glass substrate included in
the liquid crystal display module. A buffing member positioned between the
edge of the lower glass substrate and the top bezel buffs an impact to be
applied to the edge of the lower glass substrate.
Inventors:
|
Jung; Yu-Ho (Kumi-shi, KR);
Kim; Jin-Kyu (Suwon, KR)
|
Assignee:
|
LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd. (KR)
|
Appl. No.:
|
210354 |
Filed:
|
December 11, 1998 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Apr 22, 1998[KR] | P98-14410 |
Current U.S. Class: |
349/60; 349/58 |
Intern'l Class: |
G02F 001/133.3 |
Field of Search: |
349/58,60,158
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4878738 | Nov., 1989 | Hanami | 350/334.
|
5182660 | Jan., 1993 | Tanaka | 359/49.
|
5703665 | Dec., 1997 | Muramatsu et al. | 349/60.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
405313180 | Nov., 1993 | JP | 349/60.
|
406027442 | Feb., 1994 | JP | 349/60.
|
08179288 | Jul., 1996 | JP | 349/60.
|
Primary Examiner: Dudek; James A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Long, Aldridge & Norman
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A flat panel display assembly, comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate disposed against the first substrate, the second
substrate being smaller in width than the first substrate to expose at
least one periphery of the first substrate;
a buffer member adjacent the second substrate and the first substrate, the
buffer member extending to and engaging a periphery of the second
substrate, the periphery including at least a side edge of the second
substrate and a portion of a surface of the second substrate adjacent to
said side edge the buffer member abutting against the at least one
periphery of the first substrate; and
an extending part connected to a casing and defining a display area, the
extending part pressed against the buffer member that extends to the
periphery of the second substrate.
2. The flat panel display assembly of claim 1, wherein the extending part
is disposed above and covers at least a portion of the periphery of the
second substrate.
3. The flat panel display assembly of claim 1, wherein the extending part
is disposed above and covers at least a portion of a periphery of the
first substrate.
4. The flat panel display assembly of claim 1, wherein the extending part
is a bezel that defines the display area of the second substrate.
5. The flat panel display assembly of claim 3, further comprising a frame
connected to the casing and placed on the buffer member above the
periphery of the second substrate.
6. A flat panel display assembly comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate disposed against the first substrate the second
substrate being smaller in width than the first substrate to expose at
least one periphery of the first substrate;
a buffer member adjacent the second substrate and the first substrate, the
buffer member extending to and engaging a periphery of the second
substrate and abuts against the at least one periphery of the first
substrate;
an extending part connected to a casing and defining a display area, the
extending part pressed against the buffer member that extends to the
periphery of the second substrate,
wherein the extending part is disposed above and covers at least a portion
of a periphery of the first substrate; and
driving circuits that drive the flat panel display assembly, wherein the
driver is place in a gap formed between the extending part of the casing
and the buffer member.
7. The flat panel display assembly of claim 6, further comprising at least
one spacer placed in the gap, wherein the spacer has a thickness at least
that of the driver circuits to absorb force applied on the extending
member against the first substrate.
8. The flat panel display assembly of claim 1, wherein the buffer member is
made of an impact absorption material.
9. The flat panel display assembly of claim 6, further including a
plurality of spacers placed in the gap above the second substrate, wherein
the spacers and driver circuits are alternatively arranged.
10. The flat panel display assembly of claim 6, wherein the extending part
is disposed above and covers at least a portion of the periphery of the
second substration.
11. The flat panel display assembly of claim 6, wherein the extending part
is a bezel that defines the display are of the second substrate.
12. The flat panel display assembly of claim 6, wherein the buffer member
is made of an impact absorption material.
13. A flat panel display assembly, comprising:
a housing having a first extension portion extending from the housing in a
first direction;
a first substrate;
a second substrate adjacent the first substrate, the second substrate being
smaller in width than the first substrate to expose at least one periphery
of the first substrate;
a first buffer member adjacent a first side of the second substrate and the
first substrate, the buffer member extending to and engaging a periphery
of the second substrate, the buffer member abutting against the at least
one periphery of the first substrate;
wherein the first extension portion forces the first buffer member to press
the second substrate onto the first substrate in a second direction.
14. The flat panel display assembly of claim 13, further comprising a
second buffer member adjacent a second side of the second substrate and
the housing includes a second extension portion, the second extension
portion forcing the second buffer member to press the second substrate
onto the first substrate.
15. The flat panel display assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and
second extension portions are bezels that define a display area of the
second substrate.
16. The flat panel display assembly of claim 13, wherein the second
substrate is between the first and second buffer members.
17. The flat panel display assembly of claim 16, further comprising a
polarizing plate between the first and second buffer members.
18. The flat panel display assembly of claim 16, wherein the housing
extends continuously from the first extension portion to the second
extension portion.
19. The flat panel display assembly of claim 16, wherein the first
extension portion exerts a force on only a portion of the first buffer
member.
20. The flat panel display assembly of claim 13, wherein the first buffer
member has three sections including a first section extending in the first
direction, a second section extending in the second direction, and a third
section extending in the first direction.
21. The flat panel display assembly of claim 20, wherein the first section
and the third section extend from the second section at different
locations.
22. The flat panel display assembly of claim 20, wherein the first
extension portion exerts a force onto the third section.
23. The flat panel display assembly of claim 20, wherein the first
extension portion exerts a force at the first section of the first buffer
member and the first extension portion is spaced from the third section of
the first buffer member.
24. The flat panel display assembly of claim 23, further comprising a frame
between the first extension portion and the third section of the first
buffer member.
25. The flat panel display assembly of claim 23, wherein a gap is defined
by the first extension portion and the third section of the first buffer
member.
26. The flat panel display assembly of claim 25, further comprising an
integrated circuit element in the gap.
27. The flat panel display assembly of claim 25, further comprising a
spacer placed in the gap having a thickness at least that of the
integrated circuit element.
28. The flat panel display assembly of claim 25, further comprising an
integrated circuit element in one area of the gap and a spacer in another
area of the gap.
29. The flat panel display assembly of claim 26, further comprising a
plurality of integrated circuit elements and a plurality of spacers
positioned alternately in the gap.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a notebook personal computer, hereinafter
referred to as "NTPC", having a flat panel display, such as a liquid
crystal display module, and more particularly to an NTPC wherein a liquid
crystal display module is mounted in such a manner to have a slim
structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a conventional NTPC is manufactured having a size that allows a
user to exploit information in the course of his travels. In such an NTPC,
a liquid crystal display(LCD) module is used as the display device for
displaying the image and information. As shown in FIG. 1, the LCD module
includes an upper glass substrate 2 and a lower glass substrate 4 that are
positioned between an upper polarizing plate 6 and a lower polarizing
plate 8. Liquid crystal cells are arranged between the upper glass
substrate 2 and the lower glass substrate 4 in an active matrix pattern.
A thin film transistor for switching a video signal is provided at each
liquid crystal cell. The refraction index of each liquid crystal cell is
changed in accordance with the video signal to display a picture
corresponding to the video signal. The upper and lower polarizing plates 6
and 8 is responsible for enlarging a viewing angle of a picture displayed
by the liquid crystal cell matrix. Further, the LCD module includes prism
sheets 12, a light guide 14 and a reflective sheet 16 that are overlapped
between the lower polarizing plate 8 and a supporting frame 10. The light
guide 14 has a lamp 14A installed at one side thereof. The light guide 14
guides light from the lamp 4A into the lower glass substrate 4. The prism
sheets 12 allow a light received obliquely from the surface of the light
guide 14 to be progressed toward the lower glass substrate 4
perpendicularly. In other words, the prism sheets 12 serve to set upright
the progressing direction of the light from the surface of the light guide
14. The reflective sheet 16 reflects the light directed from the light
guide 14 to the supporting frame 10 toward the light guide 14 again.
Furthermore, the LCD module includes a printed circuit board(PCB) 18
positioned under the reflective sheet 16 and between the supporting frames
10, and a flexible printed circuit(FPC) film 20 for coupling the PCB 18
with the liquid crystal cell matrix on the lower glass substrate 4. Drive
integrated circuit chips 22 for driving the liquid crystal cell matrix are
loaded on the FPC film 20. The drive integrated circuit chips 22 drive the
liquid crystal matrix on the lower glass substrate 4 in accordance with a
signal from the PCB 18.
The LCD module constructed in this manner is pivotally connected to a body
of the NTPC and opened at an angle greater than 90.degree. with respect to
the surface of the NTPC body during its use. Also, the LCD module must be
protected by means of a housing 24 so that it is not damaged from an
exterior impact or hostile external condition. The housing 24 is formed to
surround the bottom surface and the side surfaces of the LCD module as
shown in FIG. 1. A top bezel 24A is provided at the upper end of the
housing 24. The top bezel 24A is disposed along with a metal frame 26 at
the edge of the upper polarizing plate 12 corresponding to the uppermost
layer of the LCD module. Because the top bezel 24A and the metal frame 26
are disposed at the edge of the upper polarizing plate 6, the housing 18
surrounding the LCD module becomes thick and further the NTPC becomes
thick.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flat
panel display module for used in such devices as a notebook size personal
computer wherein the flat panel display module is mounted in such a manner
to have a reduced thickness.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
the description which follows and in part will be apparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The
objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and
attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written
description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
In order to achieve this and other objects of the invention, a slim type
notebook personal computer according to one aspect of the present
invention includes a display module having an upper glass substrate
overlapped with a lower glass substrate in such a manner to expose the
edge of the lower glass substrate; a top bezel mounted to the edge of the
lower glass substrate; and a buffing member provided between the edge of
the lower glass substrate and the top bezel to buff an impact.
A slim type notebook personal computer according to another aspect of the
present invention includes a display module having an upper glass
substrate overlapped with a lower glass substrate in such a manner to
expose the edge of the lower glass substrate; a metal frame secured to the
edge of the lower glass substrate; a top bezel secured to the upper
portion of the metal frame; and a buffing member provided between the edge
of the lower glass substrate and the metal frame to buff an impact.
A slim type notebook personal computer according to still another aspect of
the present invention includes a display module having an upper glass
substrate overlapped with a lower glass substrate in such a manner to
expose the edge of the lower glass substrate, and drive integrated
circuits arranged at the edge of the lower glass substrate; a top bezel
secured to the edge of the lower glass substrate; and buffing dummies
arranged at the edge of the lower glass substrate to support the top bezel
without contacting the drive integrated circuits.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention
will be better understood by studying the detailed description in
conjunction with the drawings and the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of embodiments of the invention will be made with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate
corresponding parts in the several figures.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of the conventional
notebook personal computer;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of a notebook personal
computer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of a notebook personal
computer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4A is a partial sectional view showing the structure of a notebook
personal computer according to a third embodiment of the present
invention; and
FIG. 4B is a plan view showing the upper glass substrate and the lower
glass substrate in FIG. 4A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a slim type NTPC having an LCD module
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The LCD module
includes an upper glass substrate 30 and a lower glass substrate 32 that
are positioned between an upper polarizing plate 34 and a lower polarizing
plate 36. Preferably, liquid crystal cells are arranged in an active
matrix pattern between the upper glass substrate 30 and the lower glass
substrate 32. A thin film transistor for switching in response to a video
signal is provided at each liquid crystal cell.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the upper glass substrate
30 has a smaller dimension than the lower glass substrate 32 to preferably
expose the edges of the lower glass substrate 32. The refraction index of
each liquid crystal cell is changed in accordance with the video signal to
display a picture corresponding to the video signal. The upper and lower
polarizing plates 34 and 36 are responsible for enlarging a viewing angle
of a picture displayed by the liquid crystal cell matrix. Further, the LCD
module includes prism sheets 40, a light guide 42 and a reflective sheet
44 that are overlapped between the lower polarizing plate 36 and a
supporting frame 30. The light guide 42 has a lamp 42A installed at one
side thereof. The light guide 42 guides a light from the lamp 42A into the
lower glass substrate 32. The prism sheets 40 allow a light received
obliquely from the surface of the light guide 42 to be progressed toward
the lower glass substrate 32 perpendicularly. In other words, the prism
sheets 40 serve to set upright the progressing direction of the light from
the surface of the light guide 42. The reflective sheet 44 reflects a
light directing from the light guide 42 to the supporting frame 38 toward
the light guide 42 again.
Furthermore, the LCD module shown in FIG. 2 includes a printed circuit
board(PCB) 46 positioned under the reflective sheet 44 and between the
supporting frames 38, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) film 48 for
coupling the PCB 46 with the liquid crystal cell matrix fabricated on the
lower glass substrate 32. Drive integrated circuit chips 50 for driving
the liquid crystal cell matrix are preferably mounted on the FPC film 48.
The drive integrated circuit chips 50 drive the liquid crystal matrix
fabricated on the lower glass substrate 32 in response to a signal from
the PCB 46.
The NTPC according to the first embodiment of the present invention further
includes a housing 52 for protecting the LCD module from an exterior
impact and hostile external condition. The housing 52 is formed to
substantially surround the bottom surface and the side surfaces of the LCD
module. The housing 52 has a top bezel 52A defined at its upper end in
such a manner to cover the edge of the lower glass substrate 32. The top
bezel 52A engages the edges of the lower glass substrate 32 to hold the
LCD module.
In the first embodiment, a buffing member 54 is positioned between the top
bezel 52 and the lower glass substrate 32. The buffing member 54 extends
into the side edge of the upper glass substrate 30. Such a buffing member
54 buffers an impact transferred to the side surface of the upper glass
substrate 30 and to the edge of the lower glass substrate 32 when an
external impact is applied to the housing 52 and the top bezel 52A.
Preferably, the buffing member 54 is formed of any suitable material known
to one of ordinary skill in the art to absorb impact, such as a protective
tape or plastic. As described above, the top bezel 52A is positioned at
the periphery or edge of the lower glass substrate 32 extending out from
the periphery of the upper glass substrate 30. As a result, a thickness of
the housing 52 can be reduced proportional to the thickness and
arrangement of the upper glass substrate 30, the upper polarizing plate 34
and the buffing member 54. Furthermore, the thickness of the NTPC is
reduced by at least the thickness of the upper glass substrate 30 and the
upper polarizing plate 34.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a slim type NTPC having an LCD module
according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The LCD module
in FIG. 3 has the structure similar to the LCD module shown in FIG. 2.
However, the NTPC of FIG. 3 has a top bezel 52A which extends into the
periphery of the upper glass substrate 30 and has a metal frame 56 which
is provided between the LCD module and the top bezel 52A. The top bezel
52A engages the edge or periphery of the upper glass substrate 30 which is
attached or secured to a buffing member 54. The metal frame 56 engages the
edge or periphery of the lower glass substrate 32 through the buffing
member 54.
The buffing member 54 preferably extends to engage the edge of the lower
glass substrate 32 as well as the edge of the upper glass substrate 30 and
buffers an impact transferred to the side surface of the upper glass
substrate 30 and to the edge of the lower glass substrate 32 when an
external impact is applied to the housing 52 and the top bezel 52A. To
this end, the buffing member 54 is formed of an impact absorbing member,
such as a protective tape or plastic. As described above, the metal frame
56 is positioned from the edge of the lower glass substrate 32 exposed at
the periphery of the upper glass substrate 30, so that the thickness of
the housing 52 is proportional to the thickness of the upper glass
substrate 30 and the upper polarizing plate 34. Furthermore, the NTPC
becomes thin by the thickness of the upper glass substrate 30 and the
upper polarizing plate 34.
Referring to FIG. 4A, there is shown a slim type NTPC having an LCD module
according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The NTPC of FIG.
4A is distinguished from the NTPC of FIG. 3 in that drive integrated
circuits 50 are arranged near the edge or on the periphery of the lower
glass substrate 32 and that a buffing dummy 58 is provided between the
drive integrated circuits 50. Also, the NTPC of FIG. 4A may be constructed
without the metal frame 56 shown in FIG. 3. An FPC film 48 couples the PCB
46 with the drive integrated circuits 50 positioned at the edge of the
lower glass substrate 32.
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the top bezel 52A engages
a buffing member 54 attached to the edge of the upper glass substrate 30
and the buffing dummy 58 arranged at the edge of the lower glass substrate
32.
In such a NTPC, the buffing member 54 is preferably secured to the edge of
the lower glass substrate 32 as well as the edge of the upper glass
substrate 30 as shown in FIG. 4B. The buffing member 54 acts as a buffer
against an impact transferred to the edge of the upper glass substrate 30
when an external impact is applied to the housing 52 and the top bezel
52A. The buffing dummy 58 allows the drive integrated circuits 50 to be
arranged alternately at the edge of the lower glass substrate 32. Also,
the buffing dummy 58 is formed at a higher level than the drive integrated
circuits 50 in such a manner that the top bezel 52A is not in contact with
the drive integrated circuits 50. Such a buffing dummy 58 acts as a buffer
against an impact transferred to the edge of the lower glass substrate 30
when an external impact is applied to the housing 52 and the top bezel 52A
and, at the same time, protects the drive integrated circuits 50 from such
an impact. As described above, the top bezel 52A is positioned at the edge
of the upper glass substrate 30 so that the thickness of the housing 52
can be reduced at least by the thickness of the metal frame. Consequently,
the thickness of the NTPC is reduced by approximately the thickness of the
metal frame.
Although the present invention has been explained by the embodiments shown
in the drawings described above, it should be understood to the ordinary
skilled person in the art that the invention is not limited to the
embodiments, but rather that various changes or modifications thereof are
possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly,
the scope of the invention shall be determined only by the appended claims
and their equivalents.
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